Finally some new tooling of The Man of Steel. I recall a few years back there were some convention pix of a prototype of the animated version of Big Blue but it never came to pass. So this one is a LONG time coming. If you don't count Horizon's vinyl Superman kit from the 90s, (you know, the one with the unfortunate mullet?) and the multitude of garage kits, there really hasn't been a new styrene kit of this iconic comic book hero since Aurora's venerable 1964 release (including the subsequent Monogram reissues of the same kit). SO new is GREAT! New is EXCITING! You never know what you're going to get when it's all BRAND SPANKIN' NEW!
A moment of sober assessment. Okay, so this is a snap-together model kit, so the pins are large and the assembly is of the interlocking type. Specifically, the fists are assembled and then "captured" by the arm assembly, the assembled legs, arms and head are then captured by the torso pieces. It's not necessarily the best way to put together one of these, especially if you're going to paint it. And unless you're 5 years old, you're going to paint it! No worries. For the most part, the pins with their interlocking elements can be cut or ground away. So the intrepid model builder can properly deal with seams, and painting in the order he or she feels is best for him or her.
25 parts are injected in blue plastic, including Superman logo base.
I'm not liking the soft detail in the head sculpt. I'm hoping some decent paint work will make this shine. I wish it looked more like Christopher Reeve, or Brandon Routh. It looks a little like one of those Easter Island heads. Note the beefy interlocking pins at the base of the neck. I'm sure these can be ground away so the head and the body can be seamed and painted seperately.
Provided are 2 sets of graphics: traditional water-slide decals, and self adhesive stickers.
The Kryptonite chains come split down the middle! I'm curious to see what kind of work is involved in hiding those seams.
Large Superman logo base and a dreaded multi-part cape. I already glued the cape together with solvent cement and several clamps to apply constant pressure while the seam sets. This is supposed to be a snap-together kit, but I think with the cape, some glue is necessary to keep it from splitting in two.
More to come as I continue the assembly and hopefully start to paint!
As always, thanks for looking and "watch the skies!"
